Villadom Times Weekly Local Newspaper

Page 2 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • March 17, 2010 Villadom Happenings Seniors may apply for tax freeze Eligible seniors citizens may file state property tax reimbursement applications for the senior tax freeze. To be eligible, seniors must be at least 65 years of age and must have lived in New Jersey for at least 10 years, including three years in their present home. The income threshold for 2009 is $80,000 ($70,000 for 2008) for a husband/wife household. The program, which went into effect in 1996, allows seniors who qualify to be reimbursed yearly for any tax increases over their 1996 taxes or over the base year in which they become eligible. All income, including Social Security, pension income, etc., is taken into account. The deadline to qualified residents to file for the 2008-09 tax year is in June. For additional information visit www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/propfrez.shtml or call the property tax hotline, 1-800-882-6597. Project Child Find offers aid Project Child Find is seeking New Jersey preschool children and students, ages three through 21, who may be having developmental or learning difficulties. To request an evaluation for special education and related services, a written request must be sent to the school district. The child’s name, age, address and suspected disability must be included. After the request is made, the district’s child study team has 20 days to meet with the parent or guardian and determine if an evaluation is needed. To the maximum extent appropriate preschoolers and students with disabilities receive their education with children who are not disabled. Additional information can be accessed at 1-800-3228174, TTY (609) 984-8432 or http://www.state.nj.us/njded/ specialed. Immigration policies considered The Anti-Racism Committee of the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood is a co-sponsor of a special forum entitled “Immigration: Do We Need to Change our Policies?” to be held at the Leonia Public Library, 227 Fort Lee Road, Leonia, on March 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. The forum features Maria Andreu, author of �Illegal: A Memoir,� and Miguel Ramírez and Claudia Carias of MIGUA, an organization of Guatemalan immigrants. State and federal legislators are invited to participate in the discussion. The speakers and participants will share facts and opinions, and explore the most viable options for resolving this difficult problem. The forum, open to the public, is free and co-sponsored by more than a dozen groups throughout Bergen County. For more information contact info@communityoffriendsi naction.org or call (201) 598-2253. Chamber offers E-cycling program The Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Sharp Electronics Corporation is offering businesses a chance to dispose of their old computers, printers, keyboards, fax machines, and other electronic equipment with a free, convenient, and environmentally responsible E-cycling program. The program is open for businesses on Friday, March 19, from 3 to 5 p.m. and open to the general public on Saturday, March 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sharp Electronics Corporation, One Sharp Plaza, Mahwah. Televisions, sound systems, DVDs, VCRs and other consumer electronics will also be accepted. There is no charge for this service, but items are limited to seven per business or individual. For more information call (201) 529-5566 or visit mahwah.com. Lamberton to speak at museum The Mahwah Museum will hold its March History Lecture, Angels in the Gate: New York City and the General Slocum Disaster, on Thursday, March 18. Author Karen T. Lamberton will discuss this disaster and New York City’s German-American community at the dawn of the 20th century. The General Slocum tragedy had its beginnings in the German neighborhood known as Kleindeutchland, or Little Germany located on the Lower East Side of New York A Winter Tree Walk will be held at the New Jersey State Botanical Garden on Saturday, March 20, at 10 a.m. While it is still chilly outside, the signs of spring are already visible in many places if you know where to look. Join Head Landscape Gardener Rich Flynn for an educational walk in the botanical garden. Learn how to identify trees from their structure, branching, and budding patterns before the leaves reappear, and enjoy the subtle beginnings of the new growing season. Meet at the Carriage House Visitor Center at 10 a.m., and wear comfortable shoes. Snow or heavy rain will cancel this event. The walk is open to the public free of charge, but a $3 donation is welcome. The New Jersey State Botanical Garden at Skylands, which appears on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places, is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Admission to the botanical garden is always free. In the spring, parking is also free. NJBG/Skylands is located on Morris Road in Ringwood. For an event schedule, membership brochure, directions, or other information, call (973) 962-9534 or visit www.njbg.org. Say goodbye to winter City. On June 15, 1904, one of its churches held an annual outing and 1,300 members of its congregation boarded the General Slocum. Within two hours, 1,000 people, mostly women and children, had died, making this fire the largest maritime disaster in NYC history. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Ramapo Reformed Church Education Building, West Ramapo Avenue at Island Road, Mahwah. Admission is $3 per person; free for Mahwah Museum members. Refreshments will be served. Reservations are recommended; visit www.mahwahmuseum.org or call the museum at (201) 512-0099. Tournament volunteers sought The YWCA of Bergen County is seeking volunteers for this year’s The Barclays/PGA Golf Tournament, which will be held at the Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus Aug. 23 through 29. The YWCA Bergen County is a participating charity in The Barclays/PGA Golf Tournament for the second year, and The Barclays will make a donation based on the number of volunteers the YWCA provides to the tournament. The $50 application fee entitles each volunteer to a tournament golf shirt and hat, meal vouchers, parking, a volunteer pass and guest pass (both valid for the entire tournament). No knowledge of golf is required, and volunteer jobs are filled on a first come, first served basis. Prospective volunteers may log on to http://barclaysvolunteers.pgatourhq.com or call (201) 444-5356, extension 30. Be sure to indicate the YWCA as the affiliated organization (listed at the bottom of the drop-down menu.) Separation & divorce support group to meet Church of the Presentation, 271 West Saddle River Road in Upper Saddle River, will begin a new session of its separation and divorce ministry March 29. Trained team members will facilitate the sensitive emotions of anger, guilt, depression, self love, loneliness, fear, anxiety, and grief. Experiences will be shared with consideration and confidentiality. The program will run through May 24 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. To register, contact Milli Stellatos, (201) 327-1313, extension 812, or mstellatos@churchofpresentation.org. Internet safety program offered The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit will present an in-depth program on Internet Safety hosted by The Village School on March 24. The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. at 100 West Prospect Street in Waldwick. “Staying Safe in Cyberspace: Internet Safety for Parents” is a comprehensive examination of today’s Internet and the dangers that lurk inside chat rooms, instant messages, e-mail, and blogs. Learn preventative measures to protect children, many of whom know more about computers than the average parent. For additional information about this event, contact Lesley Whyard of The Village School at LWhyard@thevillageschool.net or (201) 445-6160. �� The publisher is not responsible for typographical errors, nor the omission of copy in advertisements in the event of error. The newspaper will furnish a letter to be posted stating the correct price or description. The liability of this newspaper will be limited to the actual cost of the space in question on the first insertion only, provided that the publisher is notified of the error within three days of the publication date. ��